Gecko's Tear - Contradiction (2006)

El gran Marek nos envía desde Polonia un disco sorprendente de progresivo italiano reciente, con una estructura experimental que lo acerca a lo más arriesgado del RIO y el eclecticismo.

Artista: Gecko's Tear

Álbum: Contradiction
Año: 2006
Género: Prog Metal / RIO / Ecléctico
Duración: 46:20
Nacionalidad: Italia

Lista de Temas:
1. Agartha
2. Mental Hygiene
3. My Own Shelter
4. SPQA
5. Belly Bottom
6. Suite Pt. 1: On the Wings
7. Suite Pt. 2: Unsaid
8. Bourgeois

Alineación:
- Claudio Mirone / guitarras, voz
- Aldo Ruggiero / bajo
- Marco Castaldo / batería
- Giovanni Gregorio / teclados

Formada por cuatro virtuosos napolitanos, liderados por Claudio Mirone, Gecko's Tear aparece en la escena progresiva italiana con un concepto de vanguardia, cercano al eclecticismo de bandas que hemos conocido en Alemania o en los países nórdicos, del estilo de Panzerballet, aunque con un toque particular que los mantiene dentro de la característica forma nacional del género: Italia no se cansa de aportar música de altura para nuestras cabezas.

Después de un demo realizado en 2004, Contradiction es hasta ahora su único álbum, aunque en su página de internet anuncian una nueva producción para el presente año titulada Primati. Después de que escuchen Contradiction, seguro quedarán en impaciente espera por ver qué nos trae Gecko's Tear con su nueva producción (me entero en su facebook que ya está a la venta on-line).

En Contradiction hay un despliegue de virtuosismo impresionante: con momentos que acusan influencias desde Deep Purple (en voces y guitarras hard rock con dejos bluseros) hasta Frank Zappa (en unísonos de voz y teclado en sonido de metalófono que recuerdan trabajos de Zappa como The Man form Utopia y Apostrophe), pasando por experimentación RIO en breaks insospechados y usos casi serialistas de la antiarmonía, y momentos fabulosos de metal prog. Un ejemplo (aunque no está en el disco) es el uso de sus habilidades musicales para cagarse de la risa de Berlusconi, como pueden ver en este hilarante video (si no aparecen los subtítulos en inglés vayan directo a youtube):



No solo la música de esta placa es sorprendente sino que además los temas tienen letras (en inglés) inteligentes y complejas. Un disco que no se pueden perder, gracias a nuestro gran cabezón polaco, Marek.

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Reseñas:

Glenn Astarita en Allaboutjazz

This Naples, Italy-bred quartet initially started as a progressive-metal unit, then subsequently veered towards the headier scheme of rock. Toss in some Zappa-like time signatures, Yes-inspired melodic content and mainstream rock-induced inflections, and you have a group with a proclivity for contemporizing the tried and true.
Guitarist/vocalist Claudio Mirone serves as the primary songsmith on Contradiction, where traditional prog-rock ideologies march into the new millennium with a proverbial vengeance. Featuring knotty time navigations and textural guitar-keys elements, the music relies on the ensemble's limber mode of attack, coupled with a massive and rather authoritative sound. At times these players sound like a lean and mean, musical machine. But with intermittent injections of speed-metal riffs and lush melodies that sometimes elicit notions of Britain's '70s Canterbury scene, the musicians carve out a multihued portraiture. Though gutsy, complex and straightforward, they also engage in warped psychedelic humor, drenched in whirlwind ostinatos.
Mirone is a commanding vocalist, abetted by a multi-octave range. On "Suite: On The Wings—Unsaid, his soaring vocals drive home a quirky yet appealing melody line, firmed up by catchy hooks, blaring choruses and surf guitar parts. In other areas the band unleashes a veritable aerial assault, consummating it all with an optimistic and thoroughly hip modus operandi. Recommended.

Ectagon

Blend vintage prog ideas with the modern and heavy patterns of prog-metal, add a dash of fusion rythmics and the quirkiness of Zappa; and you have a broad view of "Contradiction". The album is packed with smart compositions, excellent musical performances, and plenty of that "superiority" one expects from a prog-metal band. The singer/ guitarist/ composer Claudio Mirone is the obvious frontman of Gecko's Tear. His stamp is all over this record, with good singing, great guitarwork, and refreshing compositions that makes "Contradiction" an very good album. A recommendation of this album to everone that likes musical diversification.

Mellotron Storm en Progarchives (hay más reseñas en la página)

As much as parts of this album impress me to no end, there are other parts that I can't wait until they're over. Such is the nature of this record though, hence the title "Contradiction" is an apt one. These guys can play with the best of them, and they offer up so much variety like Metal, Jazz, Avant-Garde, heavy and spacey. I'm sure i'm missing a few. This is also quite humerous at times with silly vocals and lyrics. So this won't be everyone's cup of tea, but everyone will like at least some of this. These guys have so much potential.
"Agartha" is spacey to begin with until piano takes over. Before we get a minute in we've been hit with a full sound of heavy drums and ripping guitar. And so the ride begins as we go from mellow with piano, to complex with silliness, to dissonant. Love the bass around 3 1/2 minutes,and the melody 8 minutes in. This is one of my favourite songs on here. The vocals are very well done by the way. "Mental Hygiene" has a spacey intro with vocal melodies before a jazzy section comes and goes. Drums and silly lyrics follow. "My Own Shelter" contrasts the lighter passages with the heavy ones with vocals. Nice bass especially 4 minutes in. This is a good one but nothing more. "SPQA" sounds amazing to begin with but it's very short lived. A reggae ryhthm comes in with vocals. It changes again. I like the instrumental section 4 1/2 minutes in. Silly vocals follow. I feel like i'm being teased with these short outbursts of amazing music.
"Belly Botton" features prominant drums throughout with theatrical vocals and an island vibe. Guitar 2 1/2 minutes in is great and it reminds me of Lifeson. Keys take over a minute later before silliness returns. "On The Wings" opens with a dark mood as vocals come in. I like this serious side of the band. It brightens 1 1/2 minutes in reminding me of POS. Great passage.This song and the opening track are my favs. "Unsaid" rocks out pretty good between the bizarre vocals. Incredible sound 3 minutes in before silly vocals return 4 minutes in to end it. "Bourgeois" is uptempo with more funny vocals. Serious vocals and a calmer sound come in. The contrast continues. An amazing instrumental display 4 minutes in to end it.
I can't honestly say that this is inconsistant because this is what they created on purpose. Yes I think these guys are crazy, but man can they play ! 3.5 stars.

Michael Popke en Sea of Tranquility

Here's an album to both confound and mesmerize you. Taking cues from Frank Zappa, King Crimson, Yes, Pain of Salvation and Rush, the Italian band Gecko's Tear have crafted a chaotic debut bursting with creative phrasing and long arrangements. Manic and melodic, noisy and contemplative, Contradiction certainly lives up to its title. In fact, the album often sounds like the work of several bands — which makes sense, considering the numerous personnel changes Gecko's Tear experienced between its formation in 1999 and the release of Contradiction in 2006. This amalgam of progressive metal, fusion and symphonic rock will leave you scratching your head while still wanting more. No wonder Contradiction is one of eight finalists up for "Best Italian Album" in Italy's 2006 Prog Awards.